Skip The Crowds: The Top Experiences At Indy Colts Stadium
When you visit Lucas Oil Stadium, the "best" experiences cluster around four buckets: pre-game fan zones, in-stadium family activities, behind-the-scenes stadium tours, and on-field gameday rituals. For most visitors, combining a morning or non-game-day tour with a full gameday plan-Tailgate Town or Touchdown Town, bowl of chili, and a seat near the Colts sideline-delivers the richest taste of Indianapolis football culture.
What makes the Colts stadium experience unique
Lucas Oil Stadium opened in 2008 as the centerpiece of downtown Indianapolis' sports complex, seating roughly 67,000 for Indianapolis Colts games and numerous other events. Its two-panel, 2.5-million-pound retractable roof lets the team switch between open-air and dome-like conditions, which has helped the Colts host everything from a Super Bowl to international soccer and multiple NCAA Final Four tournaments.
Because of that flexibility, the best things to do at "Colts stadium" differ slightly by season and event type. Regular season NFL games emphasize pre-game fan zones, live music, and in-stadium kids' activities, while offseason tours spotlight the field access, press box, and locker-room hallways most fans never see.
Top gameday fan activities
On a home Colts gameday, the first big decision is where you start: open parking lots, paid tailgates, or the official fan zones. Many local fans rate the Bullseye VIP Colts tailgate as one of the most polished experiences, with three hours of unlimited food and drinks in a climate-controlled tent just off Georgia Street.
Free options include:
- Touchdown Town along South Street, which runs north of the stadium and offers a Play 60 zone with mini-40-yard dash, face painting, and autograph opportunities with Colts alumni and cheerleaders.
- Lucas Oil Plaza Stage at the north end of the building, where bands and DJs play from when gates open until 30 minutes before kickoff.
- Georgia Street's fan zone, where food trucks, hoop-shoot contests, and photo backdrops create a city-block-long pre-game party.
Inside the stadium, Lucas Oil opens its gates about two hours before kickoff, giving fans time to circle the concourse, grab a Colts-themed meal, and hit key landmarks. The Southwest Club Lounge and Touchdown Town remain among the most popular in-stadium spots, especially for families using the Colts kids' club meal discounts and activity stations.
Best experiences for families and kids
If you bring children to a Colts home game, the stadium's built-in amenities matter more than abstract architecture. The Colts Kids' Club offers a specially priced meal combo (chicken tenders or an Uncrustable, apple slices, string cheese, and a prize) at concession stands near sections 121, 151, 306, 333, 506, and 533, plus the East and West Club Street Grills.
For younger children, the sensory-friendly resources are equally important. Lucas Oil hosts a dedicated sensory room on the street level at the southwest corner, equipped with noise-canceling headphones, a Blue-themed sensory wall, and weighted blankets; that feature has helped families with sensory-sensitive kids attend roughly 70-80 percent of home games in recent seasons, according to team-affiliated kid-friendly guides.
Key family-friendly stops in a typical plan:
- Guest Services kiosk for a free "My First Colts Game" button, birthday pins, or coloring books for kids 15 and under.
- Toyota Corner behind section 148 for poster-making and face painting, which can occupy a child for 30-45 minutes before kickoff.
- Designated lactation pods in the southwest and northeast corners and on the terrace level, which provide private seating, tables, outlets, and USB ports for nursing parents.
By pairing these stops with a mid-level seat in the lower bowl-say, between sections 120 and 130-you keep restrooms, club areas, and concessions within a five-minute walk, which is critical for small children.
Stadium tours and year-round experiences
For visitors who can't catch a Colts game, the 75-minute behind-the-scenes tour of Lucas Oil Stadium is the most efficient way to "see everything." Offered roughly Monday through Saturday in non-peak seasons, these tours typically include access to the field, the press box, a locker-room hallway, and one of the suites, with guides explaining construction milestones (site preparation began in 2005) and key stats like the 2.5-million-pound roof panels.
A typical weekday tour breakdown looks something like this:
| Stop | Approx. time | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Field access | 10-15 minutes | Walk onto the Colts field and see the sideline setup up close. |
| Press box | 10 minutes | View the game from a 360-degree broadcast perspective. |
| Locker-room hallway | 5-7 minutes | Walk past the closed players' locker room doors and hear anecdotes about pre-game speeches. |
| Suite or club level | 10 minutes | Sample VIP seating and service options. |
| Retractable roof overview | 5 minutes | Explanation of the two-panel roof mechanism and how it opens in about 11 minutes. |
These tours cost roughly the same as a lower-level game ticket but avoid the crowds and noise, making them ideal for older visitors or families scheduling a quieter morning.
Must-do traditions and fan rituals
Gameday at Lucas Oil Stadium is built around a few signature rituals that serious fans rarely miss. About an hour before kickoff, the "Anvil Striker" ceremony gathers fans near the Colts' sideline, where a celebrity or alumni player swings a sledgehammer to clang a large anvil, echoing the old Colts' tradition of striking metal to energize the team.
Minutes before the opening kickoff, the crowd usually joins in the "Colts, Colts, Colts" chant, which first became widespread during the 2006 Super Bowl run and has grown louder each season. Local media estimate that 85-90 percent of fans in the lower bowl participate in the chant, especially when the opponent is a division rival like the Tennessee Titans or Jacksonville Jaguars.
Outside the stadium, the tailgating scene reinforces Indianapolis' reputation as a "walkable" NFL city. Roughly 70,000 parking spaces exist in downtown garages and lots, but many fans choose surface lots within a 10-minute walk of the stadium so they can throw a football, fire up a small grill, or just watch the crowd arrive.
Game-day logistics and pro tips
Arriving at Lucas Oil Stadium requires thinking about parking, transit, and stadium architecture. Downtown Indianapolis offers about 70,000 parking spaces, but gameday lots fill quickly, so many fans reserve spots in advance or rely on the Red Line bus and connected skywalks from hotels and the Indiana Convention Center.
For a smoother experience, aim to park at least 20-30 minutes before the earliest gate-opening time and leave room for security checks. The stadium's A-to-Z guide notes that clear bags and small personal items are encouraged, lenses on cameras are limited to under six inches, and Wi-Fi access is available but often slower during peak kickoff minutes.
By combining a pre-game visit to Touchdown Town, a mid-level seat with quick access to concessions, and a post-game stroll along Georgia Street, you effectively compress the "best things to do at Indianapolis Colts stadium" into a single, memorable day. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a longtime fan, that formula consistently delivers the closest thing to an authentic Colts-game experience without actually living next to the stadium.
Everything you need to know about Skip The Crowds The Top Experiences At Indy Colts Stadium
When should I arrive for a Colts game?
Lucas Oil Stadium opens its gates about two hours before kickoff, and most fans recommend arriving between 90 and 120 minutes out to fully enjoy fan zones like Touchdown Town and the Lucas Oil Plaza Stage. If you have small children or mobility needs, arriving closer to the 90-minute mark gives you extra time to navigate stadium concourses and locate restrooms, seating, and amenities without rushing.
What are the best food options at Colts stadium?
Signature concessions at Lucas Oil Stadium include Indiana-style chili, local craft beer, and stadium staples like loaded nachos and gourmet burgers sold from club-level kiosks. For families, the Colts Kids' Club meal bundle (chicken tenders or an Uncrustable, apple slices, string cheese, and a prize) is a repeatable favorite, available at multiple lower-bowl stands.
Are there tours for non-game days?
Yes; guided tours of Lucas Oil Stadium typically run Monday through Friday when the Colts are not hosting events, and sometimes on select Saturdays. The 75-minute tour covers the field, press box, a locker-room hallway, and either a suite or club level, giving visitors a sense of the stadium's layout and history without game-day noise.
Can young kids handle the crowd and noise?
Yes, but planning makes a big difference. Lucas Oil's sensory room, family restrooms, and quiet lactation pods help keep younger children comfortable, while the sensory-friendly "My First Colts Game" guides recommend choosing seats in the mid-levels and carrying ear protection for kids sensitive to loud cheers.